How Does Smoking Impact Dental Implants?

By Dr. Marianna Farber | 09/01/2016

At Contemporary & Esthetic Dentistry, dental implants are one of our most popular methods of tooth replacement. With stability and comfort that can far exceed traditional bridges or dentures, dental implants require no additional maintenance (apart from regular brushing and flossing) and can offer natural-looking results that blend seamlessly with the rest of your smile.

To fully realize the benefits of dental implants, patients must meet certain qualifications for candidacy, one of which is restraint from smoking. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), patients who smoke have an increased risk of dental implant failure. Researchers recently conducted a study that compared the success of dental implants for smokers vs. non-smokers.

After five years, patients who smoke experienced a 15.8 percent failure rate while non-smokers experienced a failure rate of only 1.4 percent. Dr. Marianna Farber has been warning her own dental implant patients of this correlation for years. In addition to having sufficient jawbone density to receive the implant and being in good overall health, Dr. Farber says ideal dental implant candidates will give up smoking at least one month before surgery and kick the habit for good to protect the initial success – and longevity – of their dental implant(s).